News on key developments at SupremeSAT, and general news on the Space and Satellite industry from across the web
The U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program Office, part of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise, has released a solicitation for the Orbital Services Program-4 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081500
China’s Smart Dragon-1 (SD-1) rocket will carry a satellite developed by a commercial Chinese space company in its upcoming launch, the Beijing Daily reported. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081501
NASA has selected two proposals to demonstrate small satellite technologies to improve science observations in deep space, which could help NASA develop better models to predict space weather events that can affect astronauts and spacecraft. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081502
Sierra Nevada Corporation has selected United Launch Alliance (ULA) as the launch vehicle provider for the Dream Chaser spacecraft’s six NASA missions to the International Space Station. The Dream Chaser will launch aboard ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rockets for its cargo resupply and return services to the space station, starting in 2021. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081400
At the Baikonur cosmodrome, preparations are continuing for the test launch of the Soyuz MS-14 transport spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Soyuz-2.1a. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081401
The final orbit raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was successfully carried out on 13 August 2019 at 2051 UTC. During this manoeuvre, the spacecraft’s liquid engine was fired for about 1203 seconds. With this, Chandrayaan-2 entered the Lunar Transfer Trajectory. Earlier, the spacecraft’s orbit was progressively increased five times during 23 July to 06 August…
As the second ExoMars mission, comprising a rover and surface science platform, progresses towards launch next year, teams continue to troubleshoot the parachute design following an unsuccessful high-altitude drop test last week, ESA said. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081300
Kleos space S.A. has changed launch provider for its Scouting Mission satellites which will now launch into a 37-degree inclination. Following the recent postponement of the launch of Kleos’ Scouting Mission satellites, the company investigated other available launch options with launch and mission management provider Spaceflight Inc. that would meet immediate market demand and potentially…
Technicians and engineers recently successfully commanded the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to deploy the support structure that holds its secondary mirror in place. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081302
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has submitted its purpose-built Vulcan Centaur rocket for the U.S. Air Force’s Phase 2 Launch Services competition. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2019081200